InsideOut Music recently announced the worldwide signing of the progressive rock/metal band AFFECTOR. Affector is a highly skilled, new international band consisting of German guitar-player Daniel Fries, Dutch drummer Collin Leijenaar (NEAL MORSE, DILEMMA), as well bass player Mike LePond (SYMPHONY X) and vocalist Ted Leonard (SPOCK'S BEAR, ENCHANT, THOUGHT CHAMBER), both from the United States.

Affector's debut album, Harmagedon, which was mixed and mastered at The Mouse House in Los Angeles by Rich Mouser (Spock's Beard, TRANSATLANTIC, Neal Morse), will be released via InsideOut Music on May 21st in Europe and May 22nd in North America.

A first listen of the elaborate, atmospheric songs is now available with the release of a 5-minute online album teaser including excepts from various songs off of Harmagedon. The album teaser can be found below:

Affector's Collin Leijenaar comments on the teaser and the album artwork: "With this teaser we hope to give the listener a bit of an idea what Harmagedon sounds like - but since these are only small excerpts of an album that contains about 65 minutes of music, there is much more music to explore, so the best way to really experience it, is to buy it. The album cover has been made by designer Daniel Latsch. After he heard parts of the demos when we were writing the album and we told him our story concept he made this beautiful artwork. We are very proud of it. It really adds something to the complete package. Especially with the vinyl version; one of the benefits of being able to release our album on vinyl also - the artwork is just stunning!"

Check out the artwork below:

Tracklisting:

'Overture Pt. 1: Introduction'

'Overture Pt. 2: Prologue'

'Salvation'

'The Rapture'

'Cry Song'

'Falling Away & The Rise Of The Beast'

'Harmagedon'

'New Jerusalem'

On Harmagedon, Affector are joined by four very special guests on keyboards: Alex Argento, Neal Morse (Transatlantic, FLYING COLORS), Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER) and Derek Sherinian (PLANET X, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION). Also featured on the album is the Polish orchestra Sinfonietta Consonus. This concept album fuses a dark, apocalyptic scenery with themes of hope and light and features heavy riffs and lightning fast solos, but also has softer and more fragile moments, where the soulful singing of Ted Leonard opens a wide spectrum of vocal harmonies.

Citing broad musical influences and diverse inspirations between prog and classic as well as modern rock acts, Affector is like an open marriage between progressive rock/metal and orchestral minimalism, destined to appeal to everyone into bands ranging from Dream Theater, A.C.T., Symphony X, DARKWATER to QUEEN or RUSH.

Affector lineup:

Daniel Fries - guitars

Collin Leijenaar - drums

Mike LePond - bass guitars

Ted Leonard - vocals

More details about Affector and Harmagedon will be launched in the coming weeks. More on the band at this location.